Boston, MA | Thom Boston Metro Early Intervention

Thom Boston Metro is committed to providing high quality, comprehensive, and family-centered early intervention services to infants, toddlers, their families, and others in the community who care for them. Our nurses, social workers, occupational and physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, mental health counselors, educators, and other specialists are passionate about supporting families and young children. If you have a concern regarding your child’s development, please contact us.


555 Amory Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

April Haefner, Director
Phone: (617) 383-6522
Fax: (617) 383-6520
Hours: 8:30 - 4:30

Communities We Serve:


Check to see if we serve your area:

Boston early intervention

"I went from feeling powerless by the circumstances under which my child was born, to feeling powerful by the knowledge of how to specifically help my son.”


Services We Provide

Early Intervention

Early Intervention (EI) in Massachusetts is a statewide, family-centered, developmental service. Thom Child & Family Services offers the earliest possible intervention and support for children birth to three years old and their families. Children can be eligible based upon developmental delays, identified disabilities, or certain birth or environmental circumstances that can put development at risk. Early Intervention services are provided in a child’s natural environment. Regular visits with Early Intervention providers can occur at home, at childcare, and in other community settings.

Learn More

Regional Consultation

Regional Consultation Programs (RCPs) provide consultation, family support, and community-wide workshops and training in Massachusetts. Eligible children must be enrolled in a certified Early Intervention Program and meet one or more of the following criteria: the child has extensive medical and/or healthcare needs, complex care needs, or multiple disabilities.

Learn More

Early Intervention Programs

Thom Boston Metro offers a wide variety of community playgroups and parent/child play opportunities at our Jamaica Plain program site and at other locations in Boston and Brookline. Please email our group coordinator, Katie Boyne, for dates, times, and details about current playgroup opportunities.

▸ Community Toddler Groups

Offered one time per week for children 18 months to 3 years of age. The playgroups offer developmentally appropriate activities that foster growth in each individual child, encourage exploration, and encourage socialization. Toddler groups are available to children in the community not enrolled in Early Intervention for a nominal fee (Sliding scale with a $10 per week maximum). Groups are held in the morning or afternoon for two hours. Transportation to and from group is available for children enrolled in Early Intervention.

▸ Jump, Jiggle & Jive™

a movement and music based group for parents and children. The group incorporates fun music with movement activities as well as a snack and is held in a safe and comfortable play space. Children are encouraged to work on and master new skills and concepts, such as developing a sense of rhythm, body awareness, communication, social skills and imitation, following directions, and learning to focus on simple tasks. Parents stay and participate throughout the group. Transportation is available for families enrolled in Early Intervention.

▸ “Tadpoles” Parent/Child Swim Group

Offered year-round, one time per week. The therapeutic pool setting provides a sensory-rich, safe environment which encourages movement and motor planning. Swim group is led by an experienced motor therapist and involves parent participation throughout the group. Transportation is available for families enrolled in Early Intervention.

▸ Library Story Hour

A partnership between Thom Boston Metro and the Boston Public Library System, is offered once per week at both the Roslindale Public Library and the Mattapan Public Library. Story hour encourages early literacy for toddlers through stories, songs, and activities. Families enrolled in Early Intervention as well as from the community enjoy this weekly opportunity to explore books, hear stories, and sing songs.

Regional Consultation

Thom Boston Regional Consultation Program (RCP) is committed to providing consultation, family support, and community-wide workshops and training in the city of Boston and several nearby communities. Eligible children must be enrolled in a certified Early Intervention Program and meet one or more of the following criteria: the child has extensive medical and/or healthcare needs, complex care needs, or multiple disabilities.

Thom’s Boston RCP provides support for family members that help them to care for their child with complex needs. The RCP also provides support for Early Intervention and Child Care providers to raise community awareness and capacity to care for children with multiple disabilities at home and in other early education and care environments.

RCP services are funded through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, Medicaid, Health Insurance and Health Maintenance Organizations, and through grants and charitable contributions.

Thom’s Boston RCP services include:

▸Child Specific Consultations which provide technical assistance to families or caregivers regarding a child’s individual special needs including help with: positioning, feeding, oral motor skill development, augmentative communication strategies, sensory motor needs, other needs, including preschool inclusion.

▸Community Workshops and Training to build capacity and encourage inclusion of young children with special needs in the typical daily activities of their communities.

▸Family Support Services which provide information, resources and referrals to: Parent Support and Education Groups, CPR and First Aid Training, Parent-to-Parent and Family-to-Family Activities, Respite Care, Child Care Voucher Referrals.

▸Equipment Loan Program for participating families and child care providers.

Other Program Services

Consultation, Technical Assistance and Workshops for area Child Care Providers and Families on the following topics:

  • Behavior
  • Infant Massage
  • Child Development
  • Speech & Language Development
  • Sensory Integration and Development
  • Turning 3 - Transitions from Early Intervention
  • Red Flags - Identifying Developmental Concerns
  • Special Healthcare Needs
  • Sign Language
  • Inclusion
  • Public Benefits
  • Music Therapy
  • Sensory Integration
  • Feeding
  • Lending Library

Latest News From Our Office

Meet Our Staff

Thom Boston Metro Early Intervention

Thom Boston Metro Early Intervention is in the business of helping children and their families achieve their goals. We recognize that our success depends on the skills and experience of the people who work for us. Thom Boston Metro employs about 90 full and part-time staff members: teachers, nurses, social workers, therapists and music therapists, many of whom are fluent in Spanish and Haitian Creole as well as several Asian languages.

Meet some of our dedicated staff:

Sharin is a board certified music therapist with experience working with young children. She is also a licensed mental health counselor who is able to successfully blend her work supporting families with music therapy for young children. Sharin’s clinical experience includes work with children who have global developmental delays and autism spectrum disorders.

Kelly is an experienced early childhood educator whose teaching experience includes work with young children in early intervention, preschool and child care settings. She enjoys her work with families and finds it exciting to watch children making developmental progress.

Sonnia is a Developmental Specialist and Social Worker. She has worked at Thom Boston Metro for nearly ten years. Sonnia’s enthusiasm and positive outlook is reflected in her work with families. Originally from Haiti, Sonnia speaks Haitian Creole and has been an invaluable asset to the program in reaching out to the Haitian community.